O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Shadow

Posted on April 22, 2015 by robert okaji

Shadow

walking,
crushing juniper berries
at dusk

the dog shadows me
in his absence

34 thoughts on “Shadow”

Jasbir Chatterjee on April 22, 2015 at 9:28 am said:

Nice poem and for a change, easy to comprehend…

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 9:46 am said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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janemwoodman on April 22, 2015 at 9:46 am said:

So sad and so sweet!

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 9:51 am said:
  
  The joys and sorrows of pet companionship.
  
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john hauge on April 22, 2015 at 10:25 am said:

very nice, robert. people give us odd looks when we tell them we see our departed cat flitting around the house every now and again. they fill our hearts with so much love and joy that i guess it’s just hard to let go.

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 1:00 pm said:
  
  So true, John.
  
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liz feltham on April 22, 2015 at 11:25 am said:

Sad and lovely at once.

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 1:02 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Liz.
  
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Bonnie Marshall on April 22, 2015 at 12:07 pm said:

Fragrance and remembrance…lovely concentration of thought, fine poet.

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  We both enjoyed the smells on our walks, tho his tastes were a little less constrained…
  
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rgztm on April 22, 2015 at 12:22 pm said:

Awesome.

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 1:05 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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OldenGray on April 22, 2015 at 12:55 pm said:

Nice imagery to go with such fine words.

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 1:03 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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beckycox94 on April 22, 2015 at 1:20 pm said:

Beautiful

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 2:09 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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Carla Wilson on April 22, 2015 at 2:01 pm said:

love the use of all the senses here – one of my favorites of yours!

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 2:08 pm said:
  
  Thanks for catching that! Sense of smell had to be included, since it’s so important to dogs. And I’m so pleased you like the poem.
  
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angela1313 on April 22, 2015 at 6:20 pm said:

Beautiful. My shadow is my Siamese and the scent is cabbage. Crazy cat loved cabbage. Ordered your book, looking forward to it.

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- robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 6:25 pm said:
  
  Ah, kimchee! Thanks very much. I can’t tell you how much your order means to me.
  
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  - angela1313 on April 22, 2015 at 7:02 pm said:
    
    Believe me, it was and will be my pleasure. I got two hoping I’ll find a kindred spirit to share you with.
    
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  - robert okaji on April 22, 2015 at 9:33 pm said:
    
    I am humbled. Thank you!
    
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readinpleasure on April 23, 2015 at 5:22 am said:

Amazing write, Robert. 🙂

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- robert okaji on April 23, 2015 at 5:31 am said:
  
  I’m very pleased you think so. Thank you.
  
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hallenterprises132 on April 23, 2015 at 1:39 pm said:

That’s kind of depressing. Hope that’s what you were going for or feeling. If it was, then great work!

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- robert okaji on April 23, 2015 at 3:38 pm said:
  
  My goal is to elicit an emotional resonance, but to allow the reader to fill in the blanks.
  
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roots and weeds on April 23, 2015 at 11:07 pm said:

Ah I had a juniper tree in my backyard growing up. Just me and my pup could spend hours together in the backyard. They don’t know how much joy they bring into this world.

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- robert okaji on April 24, 2015 at 4:35 am said:
  
  Joy, companionship. Hard to beat.
  
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sableswan on April 24, 2015 at 8:45 pm said:

Fantastic…

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- robert okaji on April 24, 2015 at 9:28 pm said:
  
  Thank you.
  
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  - sableswan on April 28, 2015 at 4:54 pm said:
    
    you’re welcome😊
    
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Elle on April 25, 2015 at 4:22 am said:

a bit of somber beauty!

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- robert okaji on April 25, 2015 at 7:59 am said:
  
  A celebration, a sadness.
  
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  - Elle on April 25, 2015 at 11:24 am said:
    
    indeed
    
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